Meet Storm.
Storm is one of my rescue greyhounds (the other one is Mabel). She’s such a cuddle monster and an exceptional garden digger … sigh.

Storm features in A Book of Me as a way to find pages available to print out and use again and again. She’s also in there because I love my dogs to bits and they’re a big part of my life. They make me smile and they give their love unconditionally (well…sometimes for biscuits). Even if the outside world has been tough, I open the front door and there they are, spinning around, tails wagging, pleased to see me.

Meet Storm.
Storm is one of my rescue greyhounds (the other one is Mabel). She’s such a cuddle monster and an exceptional garden digger … sigh.

Storm features in A Book of Me as a way to find pages available to print out and use again and again. She’s also in there because I love my dogs to bits and they’re a big part of my life. They make me smile and they give their love unconditionally (well…sometimes for biscuits). Even if the outside world has been tough, I open the front door and there they are, spinning around, tails wagging, pleased to see me.

I think this is a great message for everyone- my Grandma with Dementia but also myself and others. I think we can be hard on ourselves, get frustrated and not sit back and think of how well we are coping.

I think this process has brought me closer to what my Grandma may be feeling, her experience and identity. My understanding of dementia has grown also.

Hooray! You’ve made it through to the final day. Well done!
Don’t worry if you didn’t do all of the challenges, or even any of them. Sometimes just reading something or having a go at something different is enough. As a celebration of your final day we’ve teamed up with @DementiaBoy, Andy Tysoe to set you a challenge. This is based on his fantastic #DementiaDO post-it notes which you can see images of here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE36gXXTAXw&feature=youtu.be

Do
Either sum up what living well with dementia means to you, or write a message of advice, love or support to someone living with dementia. Write it on a yellow post-it note, or if you don’t have one, just a bit of paper will do. OR if you want to you can sing, dance, draw, paint, write or mime your thoughts! It’s up to you. What have you learned about yourself that you’d like to share? Imagine your post will be seen by someone who has just had a diagnosis. What message would you like to share with them?

Think
Reflect on what doing the challenges has been like. How easy did you find it to make time for them? Did it encourage you to think differently? Would you try any of them again? How could you reach out to others to share your message.

Share
Share your task with us and with others by sharing on here, or on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #DoThinkShareDAW

Hooray! You’ve made it through to the final day. Well done!
Don’t worry if you didn’t do all of the challenges, or even any of them. Sometimes just reading something or having a go at something different is enough. As a celebration of your final day we’ve teamed up with @DementiaBoy, Andy Tysoe to set you a challenge. This is based on his fantastic #DementiaDO post-it notes which you can see images of here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE36gXXTAXw&feature=youtu.be

Do
Either sum up what living well with dementia means to you, or write a message of advice, love or support to someone living with dementia. Write it on a yellow post-it note, or if you don’t have one, just a bit of paper will do. OR if you want to you can sing, dance, draw, paint, write or mime your thoughts! It’s up to you. What have you learned about yourself that you’d like to share? Imagine your post will be seen by someone who has just had a diagnosis. What message would you like to share with them?

Think
Reflect on what doing the challenges has been like. How easy did you find it to make time for them? Did it encourage you to think differently? Would you try any of them again? How could you reach out to others to share your message.

Share
Share your task with us and with others by sharing on here, or on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #DoThinkShareDAW

Whether you are living with dementia, or live or work with someone who does, or you’ve just picked up these challenges for fun, we all have people that play a really important part in our lives and everyday wellbeing.
Today we’re going to think about saying thank you.

Do
Make a thank you card for someone special. Someone who means a lot to you, or who has contributed to your life. This might even be someone no longer with us. You don’t have to send the card. But you could! In this video, https://youtu.be/x_xmVdV6GNk, Juanita is making a card and you could follow her instructions – or you could just have a go at doing it yourself in your own style, whatever is easiest for you. Think about what the person would like and draw or design a card especially for them. And then write them a message thanking them for what they do for you.

Think
How did it feel to make and write the card? If you sent it, how was it received? Did it feel easy to share thanks?

Share
You don’t have to share the personal message, but maybe share the front of the card, or just how you enjoyed the process on our website dothinkshare.com or on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #DoThinkShareDAW

Whether you are living with dementia, or live or work with someone who does, or you’ve just picked up these challenges for fun, we all have people that play a really important part in our lives and everyday wellbeing.
Today we’re going to think about saying thank you.

Do
Make a thank you card for someone special. Someone who means a lot to you, or who has contributed to your life. This might even be someone no longer with us. You don’t have to send the card. But you could! In this video, https://youtu.be/x_xmVdV6GNk, Juanita is making a card and you could follow her instructions – or you could just have a go at doing it yourself in your own style, whatever is easiest for you. Think about what the person would like and draw or design a card especially for them. And then write them a message thanking them for what they do for you.

Think
How did it feel to make and write the card? If you sent it, how was it received? Did it feel easy to share thanks?

Share
You don’t have to share the personal message, but maybe share the front of the card, or just how you enjoyed the process on our website dothinkshare.com or on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #DoThinkShareDAW

I’ve really struggled to do the challenges the last couple of days. We’ve had some really full on work days and I just haven’t prioritised it and that makes me sad. Today I am taking 15 mins more in bed and some time for me, and later on I am going to catch up with what I’ve missed!

Today’s challenge is all about recognising how important it is to have time for yourself.

Do
Spend at least 10 or 15 minutes doing something just for you. Take a long soak in the tub, put on your favourite music and dance around the room, close your eyes or look out of the window. Do your favourite thing. And enjoy it.

Think
What was that like? Is that something you’re normally good at or do you find it hard to make time for you or prioritise doing the things that you love?

Share
You don’t have to share if you don’t want to – but maybe tell us what you got up to – or send us a picture of your smiling face afterwards! Share this on our website dothinkshare.com or on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #DoThinkShareDAW

Today’s challenge is all about recognising how important it is to have time for yourself.

Do
Spend at least 10 or 15 minutes doing something just for you. Take a long soak in the tub, put on your favourite music and dance around the room, close your eyes or look out of the window. Do your favourite thing. And enjoy it.

Think
What was that like? Is that something you’re normally good at or do you find it hard to make time for you or prioritise doing the things that you love?

Share
You don’t have to share if you don’t want to – but maybe tell us what you got up to – or send us a picture of your smiling face afterwards! Share this on our website dothinkshare.com or on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #DoThinkShareDAW

Do
Describe or draw a real or imaginary pet that helps you through life. Maybe it’s a cat that cuddles you, a dog that brings you the paper, or just your fish that you watch through its glass to calm you down. Or maybe it’s a completely extraordinary animal, a rhino that gives you lifts to the bank, or a cheetah that picks up your shopping? Let your imagination run wild and see what you come up with.

Think
Did you enjoy this exercise? Is it something you could identify with? Are you suddenly off to get a cheetah?

Share
Share your drawings or ideas on our website dothinkshare.com or on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #DoThinkShareDAW

Do
Describe or draw a real or imaginary pet that helps you through life. Maybe it’s a cat that cuddles you, a dog that brings you the paper, or just your fish that you watch through its glass to calm you down. Or maybe it’s a completely extraordinary animal, a rhino that gives you lifts to the bank, or a cheetah that picks up your shopping? Let your imagination run wild and see what you come up with.

Think
Did you enjoy this exercise? Is it something you could identify with? Are you suddenly off to get a cheetah?

Share
Share your drawings or ideas on our website dothinkshare.com or on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #DoThinkShareDAW

I absolutely love navy blue, so today I’ve put on a pair of lovely navy, wide leg, linen trousers. I feel all floaty wearing them, and a little bit French! Recently I’ve been trying to reduce down all my belongings so I only own the things I love and use most. Did you know most of us wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time?

Something I’ve noticed when working with older generations is an appreciation of style and someone who is well turned out. I dont get it right every day, but i do always think about that before a project.

My favourite dress! I occasionally feel like Grayson Perry in it which inspires me to invent my own alto ego but usually just love the colours, patterns and vividness. I feel this is the most intense version of style!

Our clothes say a lot about us. Whether it’s a signature item or something someone bought for us or the general style of clothes we wear. Or if we don’t even like clothes and we just wear them for comfort. We have a challenge in A Book of Me that is all about identifying your favourite things so that if someone needs to offer you support getting dressed at any time, they will know.

Do
Pick your favourite item of clothing. Put it on, see how it feels. Think about why you like it, what it says about you, or what its story is? Or is it just that it feels lovely?! Take a picture and tell us about why you love it. And while you’re at it – try doing a twirl! Pose in a mirror, enjoy being silly and dressing up.

Think
What did this challenge feel like? Did it feel silly? What did you feel about someone else picking out your clothes some day? How might you record what you like?

Share
Share your pictures, or just your thoughts on here or on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #DoThinkShareDAW

Our clothes say a lot about us. Whether it’s a signature item or something someone bought for us or the general style of clothes we wear. Or if we don’t even like clothes and we just wear them for comfort. We have a challenge in A Book of Me that is all about identifying your favourite things so that if someone needs to offer you support getting dressed at any time, they will know.

Do
Pick your favourite item of clothing. Put it on, see how it feels. Think about why you like it, what it says about you, or what its story is? Or is it just that it feels lovely?! Take a picture and tell us about why you love it. And while you’re at it – try doing a twirl! Pose in a mirror, enjoy being silly and dressing up.

Think
What did this challenge feel like? Did it feel silly? What did you feel about someone else picking out your clothes some day? How might you record what you like?

Share
Share your pictures, or just your thoughts on here or on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #DoThinkShareDAW

We did this challenge as a group. We timed the challenge by giving each person 30 seconds to draw and then we passed the paper to the person to our left etc etc. Each picture is therefore a collaborative effort.

We did this challenge as a group. We timed the challenge by giving each person 30 seconds to draw and then we passed the paper to the person to our left etc etc. Each picture is therefore a collaborative effort.

We did this challenge as a group. We timed the challenge by giving each person 30 seconds to draw and then we passed the paper to the person to our left etc etc. Each picture is therefore a collaborative effort.

We did this challenge as a group. We timed the challenge by giving each person 30 seconds to draw and then we passed the paper to the person to our left etc etc. Each picture is therefore a collaborative effort.

We did this challenge as a group. We timed the challenge by giving each person 30 seconds to draw and then we passed the paper to the person to our left etc etc. Each picture is therefore a collaborative effort.

We did this challenge as a group. We timed the challenge by giving each person 30 seconds to draw and then we passed the paper to the person to our left etc etc. Each picture is therefore a collaborative effort.

We did this challenge as a group. We timed the challenge by giving each person 30 seconds to draw and then we passed the paper to the person to our left etc etc. Each picture is therefore a collaborative effort.

We did this challenge as a group. We timed the challenge by giving each person 30 seconds to draw and then we passed the paper to the person to our left etc etc. Each picture is therefore a collaborative effort.

We did this challenge as a group. We timed the challenge by giving each person 30 seconds to draw and then we passed the paper to the person to our left etc etc. Each picture is therefore a collaborative effort.

We did this challenge as a group. We timed the challenge by giving each person 30 seconds to draw and then we passed the paper to the person to our left etc etc. Each picture is therefore a collaborative effort.